Cedar Park, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture type required
- Full cutoff, opaque housing
- Governing code
- § 12.12.021(a)(6)
- Parking area light height cap
- 25 feet maximum
- Near-residential light height cap
- 15 feet within 50 feet
Summary
Cedar Park requires all outdoor lighting fixtures to be full cutoff, concealed within opaque housing, and aimed downward to keep light spill out of the night sky and off adjacent properties.
The light source shall be completely concealed within an opaque housing and shall not be visible from the street or adjacent properties. In order to direct light downward and minimize the amount of light spill into the night sky and onto adjacent properties, all lighting fixtures shall be full cutoff fixtures.
(7) Lighting shall be oriented not to direct glare or illumination onto streets in a manner that may distract or interfere with the vision of drivers on such streets.
(8) Lighting fixtures shall not be more than twenty-five (25) feet in height within an on-site parking area.
(9) Lighting fixtures located within fifty (50) feet of any residential use shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height.
(10) Lighting fixtures shall be mounted in such a manner that the cone of light is contained on site and does not cross any property line of the site.
(11) Wall-mounted floodlamps/wall-packs internal to a site that are not visible from a public road or adjacent to residential or multifamily district may be of any design. Wall-mounted floodlamps/wall-packs visible from public roads and adjacent to any residential or multifamily use shall not be allowed.
(12) Fixtures used to accent architectural features, landscaping or art shall be located, aimed or shielded to minimize light spill into the night sky.
(13)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4973212; v14 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
Article 12.12 of the Cedar Park subdivision and design standards code requires every outdoor lighting fixture on new development to be a full cutoff type, with the light source completely concealed inside an opaque housing so it cannot be seen from the street or neighboring lots. The rule specifically targets light spill into the night sky as well as glare onto adjacent property, and applies alongside separate height caps: 25 feet in parking areas, 15 feet within 50 feet of any residential use. The standard is enforced through the development-plan review process administered by the Director of Development Services.
Violations & Fines
Development plans with noncompliant fixtures are rejected in review by the Director of Development Services; installed fixtures that violate the standard must be replaced or retrofitted before occupancy is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cedar Park require dark-sky-compliant outdoor lighting?
Who enforces Cedar Park's outdoor lighting standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Park
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Cedar Park to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.